[kazwood]

Hi I am building three villas. I am building with a builder but I am shocked at the plumbing. No drain for bath, forgot drain in kitchen. Put drain in dishwasher recess. All the shower drains are well off centre and the toilets all seem to be off centre. I can live with one error but am worried. Noticed a slow leak at meter and supervisor could not find source. Handover soon, What is the acceptable error range for showers,toilets and drains.

[Fr_Chuck]

There is really no acceptable error, they should be built exactly to the specs on the blue prints. The contractor should hold any sub contractor liable for any errors and have them corrected.

[massplumber2008]

As stated by Fr_Chuck, plumbing is pretty specific and there really isn't room for much error.

Toilets should be roughed so they are centered between the wall and the bath sink and they should be roughed in at about 12" to the center of the flange off the rough stud wall...plus 1" or so for error, MAX.

Shower drains should be dead on to spec. and kitchen sink drains should NOT come out in the dishwasher recess, for sure!

The plumbing work needs a permit and all the work needs to be inspected by a local plumbing inspector... rough phase and finish phase. Final inspection should include a temperature reading of the hot water to the house (~125F) and at the tub/shower valves where most plumbing codes require the tub/shower valve(s) to be regulated at or below 115F.

If you are really concerned (and it sounds like you should be) call the plumbing inspector and talk to him directly... see what he thinks about things.

Back to you...

Mark

[ballengerb1]

What country is this? I have work with many contactors ans never ran into one that could forget a drain.

[mygirlsdad77]

Just to make sure here, you say YOU are building three villas. And you say, YOU are building with a BUILDER. So, who is in charge. Who is the actuall general contractor. Basically, who is responsible for making sure things are done correctly. Things can get pretty messy when there is not a true general contractor. Are the prints to spec. Or just something printed up on a computer. You need to make sure the carpenters didn't lay out their walls incorrectly, causing the shower drains to become off center. Make sure cabinet layout is exactly as shown on the prints etc etc. Lot of things to consider here. Accecptable error range on a correctly run job, is nearly zero (not to say there aren't errors, but they should be caught almost immediately, and fixed just as quickly). I would say give the plumber a shot, and get together with him to get his side of the story, or better yet, have the "builder" do his job and talk with the plumber.

Also, as Mark stated, the plumbing inspector should have a very clear opinion on what is taking place. And when I say "opinion", its more like "decision".

One more thing. A plumber can only rough in for the prints he is shown. For example, if the prints show a three foot vanity, but the owner or builder decides to have a pedistal sink intalled, the toilet rough in will no longer be "centered". There is a whole list of things that can cuase a plumbing rough in to go wrong, many of which are absolutely not the plumbers fault.

If the plumber messed up, then he is responsible, but I thought I would stand up for plumbers everywhere,, at least this one time, :)

[massplumber2008]

Quote, "If the plumber messed up, then he is responsible, but I thought I would stand up for plumbers everywhere,,,, at least this one time"...

Here here! I cheer as do we all (click on video for sound FX)!

[mygirlsdad77]

What, no standing ovation,, lol. Thanks Mark, gave me my first real laugh of the day.